Is Play Therapy for Adolescents?

When many people hear the term "play therapy," they immediately associate it with young children. This connection is well-founded, as play therapy is often employed to help children. But what about adolescents? Can they benefit from play therapy, or is this therapeutic approach exclusively for younger children?

Quick Look

Overall, while play therapy may traditionally be associated with younger children, its principles and benefits can indeed extend to the adolescent demographic. With a few modifications and understanding the unique needs and challenges of teenagers, play therapy can be a beneficial therapeutic approach.

For parents or caregivers interested in pursuing play therapy for their teens, it's important to consult with trained professionals who can tailor the experience to the adolescent's specific needs.

by Georgie Wisen-Vincent, LMFT RPT-S

Director, Play Strong Institute

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Understanding Play Therapy

Play therapy, at its core, is a form of therapy that employs play to help individuals, particularly children, communicate their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. It is more than just playing games; it's about utilizing play as a language. Through various techniques, a trained therapist can understand a child's world better, making it easier to address and resolve various issues.

Adolescents and Play

Adolescence is a transitional period from childhood to adulthood. As adolescents straddle the boundary between being kids and young adults, their needs, challenges, and modes of expression evolve. While they might not engage in play as younger children do, their need for creative and expressive outlets remains crucial.

While traditional talk therapies can be beneficial for some teenagers, others might find it challenging to express themselves verbally. That's where creative and expressive therapies, like play therapy, art therapy, or music therapy, can be effective.

Benefits of Play Therapy for Adolescents

Expression Beyond Words: Adolescents often grapple with complex emotions and experiences. Sometimes, finding the right words can be hard. Play therapy offers an alternative means of expression.
Emotional and Social Skills Development: Through play therapy, adolescents can work on developing essential emotional and social skills like empathy, patience, and understanding.
Reduces Stress: Play, in any form, can be a source of relaxation and can offer a break from the stresses of daily adolescent life.
Safety and Control: Play therapy provides a safe environment for adolescents to explore their feelings, memories, and experiences. They can confront and cope with challenging situations in a controlled setting.

Adapting Play Therapy for Adolescents

While traditional play therapy techniques might be more suited for younger children, the core concepts can be adapted for an older demographic:

Role-Playing: Adolescents can act out scenarios that trouble them or represent their experiences, providing insight into their world.
Board and Card Games: These can act as conversation starters, enabling teens to communicate their feelings more openly.
Digital Play: With technology being a huge part of adolescents day-to-day lives, video games, and virtual realities can also be integrated into therapeutic processes.
Artistic Expression: Drawing, painting, and crafting can be therapeutic. While art therapy is its own unique form of therapeutic intervention, it still harnesses the principle of non-verbal expression present in play therapy.